Vehicle Access System

ABSTRACT

The embodiments described and claimed herein are improved vehicle access systems. In particular, one embodiment includes three compact, motorized mechanisms for pivoting a passenger seat toward a door opening, extending the passenger seat outside the door opening, lowering the passenger seat, and tilting the passenger seat to help the passenger stand. The first mechanism concurrently pivots the passenger seat and moves it sideways during the pivoting operation so that it is aligned with the door opening. The second mechanism extends the passenger seat outside the door opening. The third mechanism lowers the seat.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

THE NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The embodiments described and claimed herein relate generally to amethod, system, or device that permits easy access to a vehicle for adisabled person. More specifically, at least some of the embodimentsdescribed herein relate to a method, system, or device for enabling safetransfer from a wheelchair to the seat of a vehicle by lowering the seatdown and out of the vehicle.

2. Background Art

Current devices known in the art are large and cumbersome, and thereforeusually require replacement of the original equipment manufacturer(“OEM”) seat. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved device thatis compact and allows the user to maintain the OEM seat and associatedsafety features.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The embodiments described and claimed herein solve at least some of theproblems of the prior art vehicle access systems. In one embodiment,

a vehicle access system comprises a seat base for supporting a vehicleseat. The seat base includes a base flange, a pivot member, and ashuttle. The base flange is adapted for securement to a floor of avehicle. The pivot member is pivotally attached to the base flange andis configured to pivot the vehicle seat at least partially out of avehicle door opening. The shuttle is supported by the pivoting member,is movable along a length of the pivot member, and is configured toalign the vehicle seat with a vehicle door opening. The trolley base issupported by and tilts relative to the shuttle, and is configured tolower the vehicle seat outside of the vehicle door opening. The trolleyis supported by the trolley base, is movable along a length of thetrolley base, and is configured to extend the vehicle seat outside ofthe vehicle door opening and lower the vehicle seat. The seat supportassembly is pivotally attached to the trolley, is adapted to support thevehicle seat, and is configured to tilt the vehicle seat relative to thetrolley.

Another embodiment includes a pivoting mechanism. The pivoting mechanismcomprises a motor that powers a pivot gear and a linkage assembly. Thepivot gear is configured to pivot the pivot member relative to the baseflange, while the linkage assembly is configured to move the shuttlealong the length of the pivot member.

Yet another embodiment includes a tilting mechanism. The tiltingmechanism comprises a motor that powers a trolley base tilt linkageassembly and a seat tilt linkage assembly. The trolley tilt linkageassembly is configured to tilt the trolley base relative to the shuttle.The seat tilt linkage assembly is configured to tilt the vehicle seatrelative to the trolley.

Yet another embodiment includes an extend mechanism. The extendmechanism comprises a motor for moving the trolley along the length ofthe trolley base.

Other embodiments, which include some combination of the featuresdiscussed above and below and other features which are known in the art,are contemplated as falling within the claims even if such embodimentsare not specifically identified and discussed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS.

These and other features, aspects, objects, and advantages of theembodiments described and claimed herein will become better understoodupon consideration of the following detailed description, appendedclaims, and accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1A is a side view of a vehicle showing a first embodiment of a seatbase (driver side application) in the fully retracted position;

FIG. 1B is a side view of the vehicle showing the seat base pivotedpartially out of the vehicle;

FIG. 1C is a side view of the vehicle showing the seat base fullypivoted and fully extended out of the vehicle and partially lowered;

FIG. 1D is a side view of the vehicle showing the seat base fullypivoted out of the vehicle and fully lowered;

FIG. 1E is a side view of the vehicle showing the seat base fullypivoted out of the vehicle and tilted to help the passenger stand up;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the seat base(passenger side application) in the fully retracted position;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the seat base in a partially pivotedconfiguration;

FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the seat base in a fully pivotedconfiguration;

FIG. 2D is a perspective view of the seat base in a fully pivoted andpartially extended configuration;

FIG. 2E is a perspective view of the seat base in a fully pivoted,partially extended, and lowered configuration;

FIG. 2F is a perspective view of the seat base in a fully pivoted,partially extended, lowered, and tilted configuration;

FIG. 3A is a top view of the pivot mechanism for the seat base whenplaced in a fully pivoted configuration;

FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the pivot mechanism for the seat base whenplaced in a partially pivoted configuration;

FIG. 4A is a top view of the pivot mechanism for the seat base whenplaced in a partially pivoted configuration;

FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the pivot mechanism for the seat base whenplaced in a fully pivoted configuration;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the pivot mechanism for the seat base whenplaced in a fully retracted configuration;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the seat base when placed in a fully refractedconfiguration;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the seat base when placed in a fully retractedconfiguration;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the seat base when placed in a fully pivoted,partially extended, and lowered configuration; and,

FIG. 9 is a top view of the seat base when placed in a fully pivoted,partially extended, and lowered configuration.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scaleand that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols,phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. Incertain instances, details which are not necessary for an understandingof the embodiments described and claimed herein or which render otherdetails difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should beunderstood, of course, that the inventions described herein are notnecessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated. Indeed,it is expected that persons of ordinary skill in the art may devise anumber of alternative configurations that are similar and equivalent tothe embodiments shown and described herein without departing from thespirit and scope of the claims.

Like reference numerals will be used to refer to like or similar partsfrom Figure to Figure in the following detailed description of thedrawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIGS. 1A-1E, a first embodiment of a vehicle accesssystem 100 is shown for enabling safe transfer from a wheelchair to avehicle seat. The first embodiment of the vehicle access system includesan OEM seat 110 and a seat base 120. The seat base 120 is designed toreplace the OEM seat base and to bolt into the OEM bolt holes on thevehicle floor and seat 110, rendering it unnecessary to modify thestructure of the vehicle.

The seat base 120 comprises a powered mechanism with a programmablecontroller (not shown) for pivoting, extending, lowering, and tiltingthe seat 110 from a use position, as shown in FIG. 1A, to a stand assistposition, as shown in FIG. 1E. More particularly, the seat base 120pivots the seat 110 from the use position (FIG. 1A) to a position atleast partially outside of the vehicle (FIG. 1B). The seat base 120 thenextends the seat 110 to a position at least mostly outside of thevehicle (FIG. 1C). The seat base 120 then lowers the seat 110 whilemaintaining the seat generally parallel to the ground (FIG. 1D).Finally, the seat base 120 tilts the seat 110 to help the passengerstand up. Other embodiments of the seat base 120 can be programmed toinclude any one or more of the previous steps in any order.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A-2F, the seat base 120 generally comprises abase flange 200, a pivot mechanism 300, a pivot member 400, a shuttle450, a trolley base 500, an extend mechanism 600, a trolley 700, alowering mechanism 800, and a seat support assembly 900. The pivotmechanism 300 supports the pivot member 400, the pivot member 400supports the shuttle 450, the shuttle 450 supports the trolley base 500,the trolley base 500 supports the trolley 700, and the trolley 700supports the seat support assembly 900. The base flange 200 is designedto be secured to the vehicle floor, and for that purpose includesplurality of bores 210 that are designed to engage with a vehiclespecific installation kit that aligns with the OEM bolt pattern on thevehicle floor.

As shown best in FIGS. 2A-2C, the pivot mechanism 300 interconnects thebase flange 200 and the pivot member 400, and causes the pivot member400 to pivot relative to the base flange 200. The pivot mechanism 300also causes the shuttle 450, the trolley base 500, trolley 700, and seatsupport assembly 900 to move along the length of the pivot member 400during the pivot operation to align the seat 110 with the vehicle dooropening.

The pivot mechanism 300 is best shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The pivotmechanism 300 comprises a pivot motor 302, a motor shaft 303, aspeed-reducing gearbox 304, a worm 306, a worm gear 308, a slot 310, aslide pin 312, a slide link 314, a cam-operated slide lock 316, a lockcam 317, a wedge 318, and a wedge pin 320. The motor shaft 303 andspeed-reducing gearbox 304 transfer power to the worm gear 308 from thepivot motor 302. Because the worm 306 is affixed to the base flange 200and the worm gear 308 is affixed to the pivot member 400, powering themotor 302 in one direction causes the pivot member 400 to pivot awayfrom the base flange 200 whereby the seat 105 is pivoted out the vehicledoor opening. Powering the motor 302 in the other direction causes thepivot member 400 to pivot toward the base flange 200 whereby the seat ispivoted back into the vehicle to its use position.

In some vehicles, depending upon the size and positioning of the dooropening, it may be necessary to move the seat laterally, along thelength of the pivoting member. To effectuate that lateral movement, thepivot mechanism includes a slot 310, a slide pin 312, a slide link 314,a slide lock 316, a lock cam 317, a wedge 318, and a wedge pin 320. Thesize and shape of those components are specific to the vehicle type toensure precise alignment of the seat 105 with the vehicle door opening.

The operation of those components are best demonstrated by comparison ofFIGS. 3A and 3B with FIGS. 4A and 4B. In particular, the slot 310 isrigidly affixed to the base flange 200. The slide pin 312 if affixed toa first end of the slide link 314. The second end of the slide link 314is pivotally attached to the shuttle 450. The cam-operated lock 316 ispivotally affixed to the base flange 200, while the lock cam 317 isaffixed to and rotates with the pivot member 400. The cam-operated lock316, when engaged with the lock cam 317 as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B,serves to lock the slide pin 312 at a first end of the slot 310. Whenthe slide pin 312 is locked, the slide link 314 pulls or pushes theshuttle 450 along the length of the pivot member 400 when the pivotmotor 302 is powered to rotate the pivot member 400 in one direction(from FIG. 3A to FIG. 4A) or in the other direction (from FIG. 4A toFIG. 3A), respectively. As the pivot member 400 and lock cam 317 arerotated toward the base flange 200, the cam-operated lock 316 disengagesfrom the lock cam 317 and releases the slide pin 312 so that it canslide toward the second end of the slot 310. As best shown in FIG. 5,wedge 318 engages with wedge pin 320 when the seat 105 is placed in theuse position to prevent movement of the shuttle 450 along the length ofthe pivot member 400.

As shown best in FIGS. 2C, 2D, 6 and 7, the extend mechanism 600 causesthe trolley 700 to move along the length of the trolley base 500,whereby the seat 105 is extended out the vehicle door opening (compareFIGS. 1B and 1C). More particularly, the trolley 700 includes two feet702, 704, each shaped like an inverted double-“T”, that are encapsulatedby a low friction material, such as Nyloil (a self lubricating highdensity nylon), and ride within two tracks 502, 504 in the trolley base500. The tracks 502, 504 are generally rectangular shaped with an openslot on the top surface to receive and hold the two feet 702, 704. Theextend mechanism 600 comprises an extend motor 602 with an extend motorshaft 603 that is engaged with a extend sprocket mechanism 604 and anextend chain 606. The sprocket mechanism 604 transfers power from theextend motor 602 to the two threaded extend rods 608, 610 positioned atopposite sides of and rotationally attached to the trolley. The threadedextend rods 608, 610 engage with two extend threaded nuts 612, 614 thatare affixed to the trolley base 500. Powering the extend motor 602 in afirst direction causes the extend rods 608, 610 to rotate within theextend nuts 612, 614 in a first direction whereby the trolley 700 andthe seat 105 are extended out the vehicle door opening. Powering theextend motor 602 in an opposite direction causes the extend rods 608,610 to rotate within the extend nuts 612, 614 in an opposite directionwhereby the trolley 700 and the seat 105 are retraced in the vehicledoor opening.

As best shown in FIGS. 2D, 2E, 8, and 9, the lowering mechanism 800lowers the seat 105 and holds the seat 105 generally horizontal, bysimultaneous tilting the trolley base 500 relative to the shuttle 450and erecting the seat support assembly 900.

Erection of the seat support assembly 900 is enabled by two seatsupports 902, 904, links 906, 908, and sled 910. The two seat supports902, 904 are vehicle specific and attach to the underside of and supportthe vehicle seat 105. The links 906, 908 are secured to the trolley 700at one end and, at the opposite end, to approximately the mid-point ofthe seat supports 902, 904. The first ends of the seat supports 902, 904are free, while the other ends are pivotally secured to the sled 910.The sled 910 rides in channels 703, 705 formed on the top side of thedouble-“T” shaped feet 702, 704 of the trolley 700. The sled 910includes first pin 912, second pin 912, the functions of which aredescribed below. The sled 910 also includes a “T”-shaped trailing bar916 that rides in channels 452, 454 that are secured to the shuttle 450,as described in more detail below. Channels 452, 454 are defined byupper and lower members made from low friction materials, such as Nyloil(a self lubricating high density nylon).

Tilting of the trolley base 500 is enabled by its pivotal securement tothe shuttle 450 via a rear link assembly comprising rear support links506, 508, 510, 512 and a front link assembly comprising front supportlinks 514, 516, 518, 520, 522, 524. Front support links 514, 516 areeach pivotally attached at one end to the shuttle 450 via pins 515, 517,respectively. Front support links 514, 516 are pivotally attached at theopposite end to front support links 518, 520, respectively, which inturn are pivotally attached their opposite end to front support links522, 524, respectively. Front support links 522, 524 are pivotallysecured to the trolley base 500 by fasteners 523, 525, respectively.Hand members 526, 528 are rigidly affixed to the ends of front supportlinks 522, 524 and each includes a first slot 530, 532 and a second slot534, 536 for engagement with first pin 912 and second pin 914,respectively, as described in more detail below.

The lowering mechanism 800 includes a lowering motor 802 with a loweringmotor shaft 803 that is engaged with a lowering sprocket mechanism 804and a lowering chain 806. The sprocket mechanism 804 transfers powerfrom the lowering motor 602 to the two threaded lowering rods 808, 810positioned to the inside of the feet 702, 704. The threaded loweringrods 808, 810 are rotationally affixed to the trolley 700 and engagewith two lowering threaded nuts 812, 814 that are affixed to the sled910.

Powering the lowering motor 802 in a first direction both erects theseat support assembly 900 and tilts the trolley base 500 downward. Morespecifically, powering the lowering motor 802 in the first directioncauses the lowering rods 808, 810 to rotate within the lowering nuts812, 814 in a first direction whereby the sled 910 slides withinchannels 703, 705 toward the connection point between links 906, 908 andtrolley 700 and the free ends of the seat supports 902, 904 are liftedaway from the trolley 700. As the sled 910 begins to move toward theconnection point, the trailing bar 916 enters and engages with thechannels 452, 454. In addition, the first pin 912 engages with the firstslots 530, 532 (see FIG. 2D) and pushes hand members 526, 528, wherebyfront support links 522, 524 are rotated about the fasteners 523, 525.By virtue of rotation of the front support links 522, 524, the frontlink assembly pushes the trolley base 500 away from the shuttle 450 andbegins to erect the rear link assembly, whereby the trolley base 500 istilted downward. The engagement between the trailing bar 916 and thechannels 452, 454 supports the trolley base 500 as it tilts until therear link assembly is sufficiently erected and can support the trolleybase 500. As the sled 910 continues to slide toward the connectionpoint, the trailing bar 916 exits the channels 452, 454 and then thefirst pin 912 exits the first slots 530, 532. At this point, the secondpin 914 engages the second slots 534, 536 and continues to push the handmembers 526, 528 and to rotate front support links 522, 524 about thefasteners 523, 525, whereby the trolley base 500 is further tilteddownward. Once the sled 910 is slid to its full extent, the seat 105 canbe further lowered or raised by extending or retracting the trolley 700using the extend mechanism 600.

Powering the lowering motor 802 in an opposite direction both collapsesthe seat support assembly 900 and tilts the trolley base upward. Morespecifically, powering the lowering motor 802 in the opposite directioncauses the lowering rods 808, 810 to rotate within the lowering nuts812, 814 in an opposite direction whereby the sled 910 slides withinchannels 703, 705 away from the connection point between links 906, 908and trolley 700 and the free ends of the seat supports 902, 904 arepulled down toward the trolley 700. As the sled 910 begins to move awayfrom the connection point, the second pin 914 engages the second slots534, 536 whereby the second pin 914 pushes the hand members 526, 528 androtates front support links 522, 524 about the fasteners 523, 525. Byvirtue of rotation of the front support links 522, 524, the front linkassembly pushes the trolley base 500 toward the shuttle 450 and beginsto collapse the rear link assembly, whereby the trolley base 500 istilted upward. As the sled 910 continues to slide away from theconnection point, the second pin 914 exits the second slots 534, 536 andthe first pin 912 enters the first slots 530, 532 and continues to pushthe hand members 526, 528 in the same direction. As the rear linkassembly nears its collapsed configuration, the trailing bar 916 entersthe channels 452, 454 and serves to support the weight of the system.

The stand up feature is obtained by reversing the extend motor 602 andcollapsing the seat brackets while the whole assembly is in full extendand tilted down position.

Although the inventions described and claimed herein have been describedin considerable detail with reference to certain embodiments, oneskilled in the art will appreciate that the inventions described andclaimed herein can be practiced by other than those embodiments, whichhave been presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation.Therefore, the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not belimited to the description of the embodiments contained herein. Itshould be understood that the arrangements described herein are forpurposes of example only. As such, those skilled in the art willappreciate that other arrangements and other elements can be usedinstead, and some elements may be omitted altogether. Further, many ofthe elements may be implemented as discrete or distributed components orin conjunction with other components, in any suitable combination.

We claim:
 1. A vehicle access system comprising: a seat base forsupporting a vehicle seat, the seat base including a base flange, apivot member, and a shuttle; the base flange being adapted forsecurement to a floor of a vehicle; the pivot member being pivotallyattached to the base flange, the pivot member being for pivoting thevehicle seat at least partially out of a vehicle door opening; theshuttle being supported by the pivoting member and being movable along alength of the pivot member, the shuttle being for aligning the vehicleseat with a vehicle door opening; the trolley base being supported byand tilting relative to the shuttle, the trolley base being for loweringthe vehicle seat outside of the vehicle door opening; the trolley beingsupported by the trolley base and being movable along a length of thetrolley base, the trolley being for extending the vehicle seat outsideof the vehicle door opening and lowering the vehicle seat; and, the seatsupport assembly being pivotally attached to the trolley and beingadapted to support the vehicle seat, the seat support assembly being fortilting the vehicle seat relative to the trolley.
 2. The vehicle accesssystem of claim 1, further comprising a pivoting mechanism, wherein thepivoting mechanism includes a motor that powers a pivot gear and alinkage assembly, the pivot gear being for pivoting the pivot memberrelative to the base flange and the linkage assembly being for movingthe shuttle along the length of the pivot member.
 3. The vehicle accesssystem of claim 1, further comprising a tilting mechanism, wherein thetilting mechanism includes a motor that powers a trolley base tiltlinkage assembly and a seat tilt linkage assembly, the trolley tiltlinkage assembly being for tilting the trolley base relative to theshuttle and the seat tilt linkage assembly being for tilting the vehicleseat relative to the trolley.
 3. The vehicle access system of claim 1,further comprising an extend mechanism, wherein the extend mechanismincludes a motor for moving the trolley along the length of the trolleybase.